Solas Story 1 한강의 소년이 온다 Human Acts by Han Kang

Author 한강 Han Kang

2024 Nobel prize winner 한강 Han Kang grew up in Gwanju, South Korea, a city marked by both beauty and tragedy. Rather than turning away from the dark chapters of its past (which Kang lived through) she bravely decided to do something about it. Kang put pen to paper and gave voices to those silenced.

Originally a poet, Han Kang later turned to fiction, authoring acclaimed works like The Vegetarian, We Do Not Part, and our recommendation, Human Acts. Kang has a writing style that is both economic and readable, with no fluff around the corners. However, at the same time, each word she uses is overflowing with intention and potency. She can write a simple sentence that will dissect your inner self with precision and make you remember the way you felt isolated on the first day of school, when you regretted not saying something to someone for the last time, the time in summer when you were young and loved your friends so much it felt like pure heaven. Reading her work feels like watching someone live their writing in real time, fully immersed in its pain and beauty. She bears that emotional weight not for spectacle, but to offer something meaningful to the world. We at rún are eternally grateful for this act of service. For these reasons, among many others, is why we chose Han Kang as our first author. 

Human Acts explores the aftermath of the Gwangju Uprising through the eyes of victims and survivors. Writing it took a deep personal toll. In the epilogue, Kang describes how the weight of the testimonies led to nightmares, isolation, and repeated pauses in her work. Yet she persisted. She immersed herself in every document, every detail, clearly driven by a sense of purpose and responsibility.

This unwavering dedication to truth, empathy, and justice is why Han Kang is our first featured author.

Special thanks to the translator of Human Acts, Deborah Smith